Pallet delivery Europe help

After officially leaving the European Union, exporters of goods must now learn to adapt to new HMRC customs processes when trading with European countries. You must be familiar with the Europe delivery process before confirming your booking.

Please ensure you have read the following information carefully before booking your Europe pallet delivery.

EORI Number

If you wish to continue trading with a European business that purchases goods from the UK, you must ensure you have a valid UK EORI number.

To get your Economic Operator Registration and Identification number, you must be VAT registered. If you need to register, you must do so before booking your Europe pallet delivery.

Registration can usually take up to 4 working days as you wait for HMRC to confirm the application and provide your EORI number.

You must also ensure that your EU customer has a valid EORI number with and is registered with their Local Authority.

UK Customs Tariff & Commodity Codes

You must establish what your commodity codes are for the items you export. Doing this will ensure the right duties and taxes are imposed by destination Customs authorities, and that the exporter proclaims the correct information.

Customs Procedure Codes (CPC)

When exporting goods to EU countries from the UK, if the buyer is using them within their own country, we will apply the applicable home use CPC code. However, if you are returning items for repair or exhibition and can confirm that they will be sent back to the UK in the same condition, then please let us know immediately so that we can apply the right CPC code.

This will help identify the Customs and excise pattern in which goods are being entered and removed, essentially helping to avoid unnecessary Duty and Taxes being applied. Some Customs systems require HMRC approval and authorisation.

Export Licence(s)

While hundreds of UK exports do not require export licences, you may need a licence or to adhere to strict rules to export certain restricted items. You should always check with your customers to ensure there are no rules that will prevent the items from reaching them.

Packaging Material

If items are packed in wooden packaging materials, ISPM15 regulations may need to be applied. Please ensure you check this with us if you are not sure whether these regulations apply.

Commercial Invoice Requirements

A commercial invoice is now required for all goods entering and leaving Great Britain.

The following details must be included within your commercial invoice:

• Full name, address, and contact info of the seller, consignee, and buyer
• EORI number of both the seller and buyer
• Commercial Invoice number, date of issue, and a signature
• Invoice number, date of issue, and Purchase Order (sales contract)
• Price, payment method, currency, and valid discounts or additional charges - freight and insurance should be displayed separately on the invoice if you insure the goods and are paying for the freight.
• Number of items or unit count (i.e. Square Metre of Fabric)
• Net weight of items
• Tariff/HS Codes and a description of the items in English
• Statement of origin of the items
• Actual value of the goods

Export Packing List Requirements

The commercial invoice may already contain packing list information. In which case, packing lists may not be needed for Customs clearance. However, if your invoice does not mention packaging details and how to identify them, you must ensure a packing list is made available.

A packing list typically includes the following:

• Full name, address, and contact details of the seller, consignee, and buyer
• Number and type of packages
• The dimensions of each piece (measured in cms)
• The net weight and the gross weight for each piece (measured in kgs)
• Quantities of products within each package
• Marks and Numbers
• A reference number to confirm the commercial sale correlates with other shipping documentation. I.e. a sales or purchase order number.

Booking with PalletOnline

When booking a Europe pallet delivery, PalletOnline must obtain the exporter commercial invoice with the relevant details required to complete the export declaration. Once you have provided this information, we will then arrange the collection and create the export customs documentation. Then the items can make their way from the UK to your chosen European destination.

Nominating a Customs Broker

PalletOnline may require a written confirmation from the exporter stating that they authorise our third-party exporters in Europe to represent the export entries on your behalf. We will contact you should we need any paperwork signed prior to delivery.

Delivery Contact and Customs Clearance

While your items are in transit, our EU counterpart (in the country you are shipping to) will liaise with the buyer to make arrangements for customs clearance. This will normally be via their service, or in some cases, a handover to the broker of the buyer.

Relevant VAT and customs documentation charges will be raised against the buyer by either the local authorities, forwarder, or the broker. Usually, as soon as any associated charges and VAT are settled, your items will be released by our EU counterpart for final delivery to the buyer.